Caring for Your Mississippi-Grown

Christmas Tree

After you’ve found your perfect Christmas tree, maintain it so it will last throughout the holiday season.

• If you don’t plan to put up the tree immediately, store it in a place away from cold and wind, such as in a garage. Make a fresh 1-inch cut at the bottom of the trunk so that the tree can absorb water better, and place it in a bucket of warm water. To help your tree absorb water, make a fresh 1-inch cut at the bottom of the trunk before you place it in the tree stand, even if you already made a cut to the tree when storing it.
• Keeping pre-cut trees watered is important. In the first week, trees can consume up to a quart of water every day.
• How much water a tree needs in its stand depends on its size. Use 1 quart of water for every 1 inch of diameter.
• Check the water level in the stand daily. As long as you keep the water level above the cut end of the tree, it will not dry out.
• Use UL-certified mini LED lights. These produce less heat, which will slow the drying process.
• Take down the tree before it dries out. If taken care of, many trees can last for 5 weeks before drying out.

Source: University of Illinois Extension, http://extension.illinois.edu/trees/index.cfm.